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LA Digs - Northeast LA Real Estate Blog

Welcome to LA Digs, the real estate and Northeast Los Angeles community blog written by Realtors Tracy King and Keely Myres.

Here, we share tips, market updates, and local news bits to keep you informed on what's happening in Northeast Los Angeles and the surrounding neighborhoods. Read on to learn about the latest in your neighborhood!

The newly passed Tax Reform Act supplies perks based on investments in property, but not everyone benefits and there is a downside.

It's been all over the news. Pundits have been spinning the plusses and minuses of the newly passed Tax Reform Act. Some say homeowners are going to get the shaft. Some say there will be a windfall for homeowners and investors. As a long-time real estate professional, my inbox has been inundated with questions from those who just purchased homes in Highland Park and Eagle Rock this year, as well as those looking to invest in homes for sale in Pasadena, Mt. Washington and other areas of North East Los Angeles.

The long and short of it? I have good news and I have not-so-good news. The good news is, the new tax reform act that was just passed by both houses of Congress isn't as bad as it could have been for those who have some financial interest in real estate. The not-so-good news is, it's not going to be as good for real estate as it has been over the past several years.

We can still write off some state and local taxes up to $10,000. The bad news is that is actually a tax increase for those of us who have more than an $800,000 house and/or still pay some other state or local taxes.

We still have the mortgage interest deduction, but only up to a mortgage of $750,000, instead of the $1,000,000 it has been.

The $500,000 capital gains exclusion is not affected! If you have lived in your primary residence for 2 of the last 5 years, you and your spouse can each deduct up to $250,000 of your net capital gain when you sell your house.

So there it is. The basic nuts and bolts. The rules haven't changed. When it comes to investing in any sort of real estate, the rule is, take your time, perform your due diligence, be well informed and understand the benefits and potential pitfalls.

It has always been advisable to consult your tax consultant before making any decisions regarding your real estate activity. This is certainly true today.

The latest in Highland Park real estate news - nine single-family homes are being built on Burwood Avenue in Highland Park. Curious about the rumors of "gated community" and the like, I attended the Highland Park Neighborhood Council Meeting to hear a presentation by a representative from Williams Homes, a smaller developer who works out of Santa Clarita, who is building the project. I will tell you right now, this is an opinion piece, not a news article. And when you say Santa Clarita to me, I think of packed-in-like-sardines cheesy spec-built stucco developments with no soul. Here are the facts according to Keith Herren, Executive Vice President of Williams Homes:

The development plan has been approved. Grading has begun, sewers and water are in, the streets will be in soon, and home construction will begin within a couple of months.

The homes will be 2400-2700 square feet. The flat lots will have 2-story homes. The hillside lots will have 3-story homes with the main living area on the second floor, bedrooms on the top floor.

The lots will be about 5,000 square feet and the homes will each have yards.

The price is going to be in the $700,000-$750,000 range.

The style will be contemporary, a lot like the Rock Row development on Yosemite Drive in Eagle Rock.

The development will not be gated.

The discussion at the Neighborhood Council was lively. Neighboring residents voiced their objections to the style and the size of the homes because they felt it would be inconsistent with their smaller, historic Craftsman-style homes. These folks have every right to their opinion. They feel that no one will want to buy the new homes because they don't represent the historic nature of Highland Park.

I think it will be very interesting to see what becomes of these 9 homes. We have seen inappropriate developments in Highland Park before--the Monterey Hills development that sold out eventually, and the four homes on North Staley off of Avenue 64, to name two. Both projects were supremely not Craftsman style, the Monterey Hills project was a large enough development that it was its own community, separate from the main part of Highland Park. The four homes on North Staley were real tract-style homes, priced in the $800,000-plus range and they still haven't sold.

I think this development could be different. For one thing, the homes are going to have some style and character, even though it isn't a Craftsman style. I hope they will incorporate some green building materials and features, like the Rock Row development did. Personally, I would much rather see an honest contemporary-styled home next to an original Craftsman home than see an imitation of the faceless beige stucco homes that stretch for miles in so many developments in Orange, Riverside, or San Bernardino counties.

We have a contemporary home coming on the market next week which will set a precedent for this development, and it's maybe a half-mile away. 5830 Buena Vista Terrace is an architectural, eco-friendly contemporary that knocks my socks off, and I think the buyers are going to flock over to buy it. It has about the same square footage as these homes, 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, views from almost every window, a very private setting, and much more. We listed it for $799,000, Come check it out and tell me if you agree that it's about good style versus no style. Highland Park is historic and full of Craftsman homes, but it also has some interesting modern and contemporary homes scattered throughout.

Perched on a hill in Highland Park just a stone's throw from Eagle Rock, this updated 1926-era cottage has the privacy, views and serenity your artistic soul desires. Completely remodeled, this sweet cottage has a newer kitchen and down the spiral staircase is a master suite that includes a spa tub. The completely fenced street-to-street lot has a small garage at the end of the Avenue 53 culdesac, while the house sits at street level behind a privacy fence on Raber. The private garden offers a spa with a view, a deck with a view, and a porch with a view. This is a short sale and subject to lien holder approval. House is larger than assessor's records.

OPEN TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 10-2; THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 10-2; SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1-4!

3BR/1+1BA Single Family House

$449,000

Year Built

1923

Sq Footage

1,024

Bedrooms

3

Bathrooms

1 full, 1 partial

Floors

1

Parking

1 car detached garage

Lot Size

5,445 sqft

HOA/Maint

$0 per month

Description

Sweet Craftsman cottage has it all--even the white picket fence! Located in the newly designated Garvanza area of the Highland Park Historic Overlay Zone, this is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Highland Park, adjacent to Pasadena. This adorable 1923-vintage home has an efficient floorplan that covers it all--3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, hardwood floors, a rebuilt 1-car garage with rooftop deck, a backyard designed for entertaining with a patio, garden, and play area. Updated with central air & heat, remodeled kitchen & baths, crown molding, and bead-board wainscoting. The lot is completely gated and fenced for added privacy.

If you are looking for a completely done little Craftsman cottage in Highland Park then you are in luck. 533 Neva Place is back on the market! Two bedrooms, two baths, plus over 1,200 square feet of bonus space. Upgrades include: tankless water heater, central air and heat, laundry, and a finished two-car garage.

Specs: Listed for $479,000, 1,050 SF on a 4,600 SF lot. Built in 1908.

As everyone knows, the last three years have been a roller coaster ride for real estate prices all over the country. In Eagle Rock (zip 90041) and in Highland Park (90042), the average price of single family homes that sold went down over 50% between the peak of the market in January, 2008, and the depths of the recession in March of 2009. Wow. Keep in mind that this doesn’t mean that the value of your individual home necessarily went down 50%, but if you bought your home in January of 2008, you probably would not be able to sell your home for what you paid for it either in 2009 or today.

Since the so-called “bottom” of the market in March, 2009, we have seen an overall beginning recovery of prices so that as of August of this year, the average sale price in Eagle Rock was up over 27% and in Highland Park over 15%, even accounting for the slowdown that happened after the first-time buyer tax credit expired at the end of April. It felt kind of like home buyers all decided to take a long summer vacation, but about half the current pending sales have opened escrow since September 1, probably due to the most breathtakingly low interest rates we have seen in our lifetime (at least since 1955). Sales prices in 90042 so far this year have averaged both for list and sales price about $337,000. In 90041 Eagle Rock, the averages have been $454,000 list price and $457,000 sale price. Since the 90042 zip code is much larger than 90041, more than twice as many homes have sold there.

If you are new to Eagle Rock and Highland Park, you will love the eclectic mix of older character homes dating from the Arts and Crafts era of the early 1900s to the interesting midcentury moderns that often look out over stunning views of the Verdugo Mountains to the north and downtown Los Angeles to the south. There are traditional, Spanish-style and newer homes scattered through the mix as well. Truly something for everyone. You can purchase a small foreclosure for as little as $300,000, even less in some places, but expect to compete with investors who can pay cash. The highest sales prices so far this year in 90042 for a single-family home was $801,000 in Highland Park for an architect-designed contemporary with 275 degree views and $888,000 for an unusual Zen-influenced home with guest house on a wonderful private garden lot in Mt. Washington. In Eagle Rock, it was $876,000 for a remodeled older home-turned contemporary that also boasted amazing panoramic views.

The people of Eagle Rock and Highland Park are as diverse and interesting as the housing is. From long-time residents who were born and went to school here to the recent migration of renters from Silverlake, Echo Park and Los Feliz to purchase their first homes in our residential neighborhoods, everyone gets along pretty well and is generally devoted to this vibrant community. You will find a huge number of artists alongside many professionals who work downtown and love the relatively short commute. You will also find a growing number of family-owned places to eat and drink and shop that cater to just about every taste. The recession was a setback, but the positive spirit of our community is irrepressible. Welcome to Northeast Los Angeles!

6220 Hillandale Drive is a beautifully re-done Craftsman-style home at the top of a great street in Highland Park. It was bought as a foreclosure by investors who do great work at keeping period features in place, and you can really tell in this home. With 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, the house is 1,532 square feet and sits on a 6,750 sq. ft. flat lot.

An Arroyo-stone front porch greets you upon entry

Practically everything is new in this home - new roof, new windows, new kitchen (from floor to fixtures), new bathrooms! And everything that isn't new has been beautifully refinished, including the hardwood floors, built-in buffet and built-in living room cabinets.

Living room features a working fireplace & built-ins

Dining room has a built-in buffet, plus a little nook off to the side

Kitchen, includes breakfast nook overlooking deck

The bedrooms are well-sized and include ample closet space. Each one features large windows that let in the natural light.

Master Bedroom, includes two closets and a full bath

Front bedroom

Third Bedroom

There is additional bonus space underneath the house that offers extensive storage opportunities, or...? The yard is deep and flat and is shaded by a huge tree.

Deck, off of kitchen

Back Yard

Bonus Space

If you would like to see this amazing turn-key home, call me at 626.827.9795. For more pictures visit www.6220Hillandale.com.

6220 Hillandale is listed for $529,000.

This listing is courtesy of me! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

It's always hard to get back into work mode after a 3 day weekend, so if you're wishing it was the weekend again, jot this down on your calendar for Saturday, July 10. It's NELA's Second Saturday Artwalk, of course!

Second Saturday and Opening Reception for An Exhibition of Quilts by Ruby Nishio

Ruby Nishio grew up in Los Angeles and was interned at Heart Mountain relocation camp during WWII. After returning to Los Angeles she began working at Cahill in Beverly Hills, sewing and designing wedding gowns. She was very talented and adept at doing patterns and creating wonderful gowns and custom clothing. For the past 18 years she has used her talents in creating beautiful quilts. Ruby Nishio is an amazing quilt artist and has won many awards for her work. This is her first one- person show.

Nishio has been sewing for over 70 years. She has done all types of handwork, from custom dressmaking, knitting, tatting, crocheting, and embroidery. In 1992, she transitioned into making quilts. The imagery she uses is taken from her personal interests. She loves gardening and many of the patterns she uses are of flowers and nature. She stitches fabric pieces together to form repetitive patterns that are then hand quilted. One quilt in the exhibition, Trip Around the World (1998), includes 2193(!) two-inch squares of flowered fabric where the stitched edges of each piece loses its sharpness and blends with the piece next to it, forming an impressionist patterned garden. In New York, New York (2005), echoes of the Statue of Liberty are depicted in the patterns, while the colors and fabrics are reminiscent of Broadway by way of the Ginza. Expressing her love of gardening and traveling, Nishio has created wonderful pieces that are truly works of art. The exhibition will run till July 31 (on view by appointment).

Join us for a special Artist's Tea: Sunday, July 25 from noon - 4 p.m.

Also, don't forget to pick up July's trading cards (Chicken Boy trading card #9 and a Ruby card)--they'll be waiting for you in a bin inside the front door.

PS: Chicken Boy Shop will be open Second Saturday. We've gotten a few new items in to check out... like Tyvek pop art wallets and some magnetic jewelry...

BOOK BOOTH is a free community art/literature project. The books and magazines found at BOOK BOOTH are all donated by your neighbors and are looking for new homes, so if you see something that interests you, please take it. If you have family-friendly books and magazines that you would like to pass alongâ€”just leave them at BOOK BOOTH. Please help keep BOOK BOOTH neat and trash-free.

*Some of the books at BOOK BOOTH are registered with bookcrossing.com, a free online book tracking service. If you find a label inside a book, there will be a an ID number that you can enter at the site and make a journal entry about the book and its ongoing journey.

A big gushy thank you to everyone who has been supporting BOOK BOOTH HIGHLAND PARK!

It empties out almost as soon as it fills up (we can't figure out exactly what's going on but we aren't seeing the streets littered with pages, so we're hoping it's all good). We've pulled out The Tipping Point, Stephen Colbert's I Am America (and So Can You), and Susan Sontag's The Volcano Lover. (They'll all go back to the booth as soon as we're done reading them.) So, please keep bringing books and magazines (even CDs and DVDs) and taking stuff too. If it's all filled up, drop them off at the gallery (ring the semi-hidden bell). You can drop them off Second Saturday also.

We plan on identifying other vacated phone booths so others can make their own Book Booth. Watch this space for the latest.

There is so much to do around here! Luckily, many of these shows run for a few weeks, but if you want to attend the openings, you'll have to pack most of them into Saturday, March 13!

Coming Attractions From the Arroyo Arts Collective

There is so much to do around here! Luckily, many of these shows run for a few weeks, but if you want to attend the openings, you'll have to pack most of them into Saturday, March 13!GERARDO HACER: THE MYTH PE Lofts Gallery, 610 S. Main St. LA 90017 Reception: Thursday, March 11, 2010 from 12:00 noon to 10:00 PM Presented by The Avenue 50 Studio, with the support of Los Angeles Trade-Tech College (LATTC) at the Downtown Art Walk in the PE Lofts Gallery (corner of 6th and Main Street). The work of Los Angeles-based sculptor, Gerardo Hacer, consists of monumental structural, metal, origami animals in bold, flat, solid colors. The centerpiece of the show, Gerardo Hacer: The Myth, is a 2-ton fourteen-foot Pegasus entitled, "Education Gives You Wings To Fly" that will be permanently installed at the gateway of the main entrance to Los Angeles Trade-Tech College's new $250M campus. A former graduate, Gerardo was selected as the face of their multimedia campaign, "Trade As Art". His works have received coverage from SoCal News, Huell Howser's "California Gold", as well as, featured on public transit DASH buses. Contact: Ashley Lund - 310-405-5285

ART AND ARCHITECTURE: MERGING THE CONTEMPORARY AND THE HISTORICAL Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, 2225 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles 90041 323.226.1617, www.centerartseaglerock.orgPanel Discussion: March 13, 2010, 4-6 pm Panelists: Gwynne Pugh (Pugh + Scarpa), Isotta Poggi (Getty Research Institute), John O'Brien, Cielo Pessione Bruno Bondanelli will be making a brief presentation on behalf of Italian Living Umbria at the end of the round table conversation and offering Baci Perugina for all. FOLLOWED by NELAart Second Saturday Gallery Night 7-10 pm The March 13, 2010 panel discussion about "Art and Architecture: Merging the contemporary and the historical" is particularly relevant at CFAER, a historically listed 1914 Carnegie Library Building, that was itself transformed into a multicultural community center for arts and culture.

MICK & FRIENDS: A COLLECTION OF ROCK & ROLL PHOTOGRAPHY drkrm/gallery, 2121 San Fernando Road Suite 3, Los Angele 90065323.223.6867, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. March 13th- April 3rd, 2010, Tue-Sat 11-5 Sun 1-4 Opening Reception Saturday March 13th 7-10pm drkrm/gallery announces it first show of 2010, a group show retrospective of fine art Rock & Roll photographs. Featuring Ethan Russell's 1968 portrait of John and Yoko, Cecil Beaton's portraits of Mick Jagger on the set of the film Performance and Travis Shinn's recent photographs of Morrissey and Marilyn Manson. The Exhibition will run though April 3rd. There will be an opening reception Saturday March 12 from 7-10 pm with several of the artists in attendance. Also featured are images of Bob Marley from the 1980's by Neville Garrick, Paul Zone's photos of KISS playing a small Queens NY club in 1973 and a 1969 Grateful Dead concert in San Francisco photographed by Ryan Herz plus many more.The Land of Odd Gallery, 4690 Eagle Rock Blvd. Los Angeles 90041 March 13, 2010 â€“ March 27, 2010 Opening Reception: March 13, 2010 from 6pm to 12am Come to The Land of Odd Gallery's 5Ã—7â€³ Group Show, opening on the evening of March 13, 2010 from 6pm to 12am. We will also be continuing our $100 and Under Art Show so if you missed getting to see it, now is your chance to come by and check it out. This event will be held in conjunction with the NELA 2nd Saturday art walk. As always refreshments will be served and the event is FREE! We are proud to have the following artists participating in the 5Ã—7â€³ show: Chito Arellano, Christie Bastet, Jeff Bertrand, Julie Bossinger, Deryke Cardenaz, Jennifer Cuellar, Brad Davis, Jolly de Guzman, Diane Harrelson, Chuck Hodi, Edith Ben Horin, Jinx, Bruce Kaplan, Patrick Quinn, Pablo Ramos, Monica Roache, Annalise Sullivan, Jason Sullivan, Melissa Sullivan, and Christopher Umana. Most of these works have been created especially for this event and have never been exhibited before, so come by and show your support. We will also be continuing our $100 and Under Art Show, featuring the artwork of; Douglas Alvarez, Christie Bastet, Edith Ben-Horin, Charles Bennett, Terri Berman, Jeff Bertrand, Deborah Blanco-Flores, Chris Bonno, Heidi K. Born, Deryke Cardenaz, Bryan Collins, Emma Cooper, Josh Cooper, Creep Creepersin, David Daniel, Brett Gilbert, Jolly de Guzman, Brad Davis, William Reynolds Green, Joe B. Hall, Benjamin Harmon, Santiago Heredia, Nicholas Hernandez, John Hicks, Chuck Hodi, K. Howell, Chris Isner, Jinx, Bruce Kaplan, Amelia Lewis, Cynthia Llanes, Vivian Nguyen, Sean Madden, Demi Pietchell, Patrick Quinn, Pablo Ramos, Monica Roache, Glenda Rolle, Lisa Rosso, Therese Solone, Evil Paul Springer, Melissa Sullivan, Jason Sullivan, and Ckay Walker. Mention the phrase â€” "The greatest FREE print on Earth" â€” and you may choose a FREE 5Ã—7â€³ linoleum print. You might want to mention it to someone who works at the gallery. Otherwise people will just think you are weird.

MOSTLY SCULPTURE SHOW Sea and Space Explorations, 4744 York Boulevard, Los Angeles 90042 March 13-28, 2010, Gallery Hours Friday/Saturday 1-6 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm Opening Saturday March 13, 7-10 pm This is a show of work that centers on material exploration. The six artistsâ€™ works are unified by their emphasis on process and innovation. Each artist engages in a pas-de-deux with specific materials in a poetry of making. In the tradition of Schwitters, Tuttle, Franz West, Kippenberger, and Genzkin, this work is strongly formal and has to do with specific methods of making. Encompassing materials from draped fabric to dyed carrara marble to sheetrock to newspaper to fireproof canvas to human stand-ins and fake flowers, the show is made up of work that is sculptural and mostly sculpture. Artists: Kathryn Andrews, Alice Clements, Heather Cook, Patrick Hill, Alice Konitz, Brett Lund

HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO BE AN ARTIST? The Judson Studios Gallery, 200 So. Avenue 66, Los Angeles 90042 Saturday,March 13th , 6:00PM~9:00PM Students of ROOM 13, an international network of student-operated art studios will show work at The Judson Studios Gallery as part of NELA Art Night. Three ROOM 13 studios, including James Foshay Learning Center in South Los Angeles, Eliot Middle School in Altadena, and Marjorie Street in South Bay, will showcase paintings, drawings, sculptures, mixed media, assemblage, muralart and animation at this collaborative art installation. The Judson Studios, an internationally known stained glass maker run by five generations of family members, was also the first home to the USC School of Fine Arts until 1920. Room13 originated in Caol, Scotland in1994 and has grown into an international network of student-designed and operated creative studios. It now provides learning and business enterprise skills to students in Scotland, Britain, Nepal, India and South Africa, and is currently expanding to Mexico, Turkey, China and Austria. The director of theTate Galleries has called Room 13 "the most important model for artistic teaching in school that we have in the UK." In 2008, Light Bringer Project, a nonprofit arts provider, engaged with the program's international trustees and decided to take advantage of this opportunity for our own public school children. Partnering with Project Design Studio, the organization launched the first ROOM 13 in America at James Foshay Learning Center in South Los Angeles. They proceeded to found ROOM 13 at Eliot Middle School in Altadena. The third, an dmost recent model, ROOM 13 at Marjorie Street, was formed early this year in the South Bay vicinity. Like its peers, each creative studio operates as a physical space flourishing within a public school or community setting and is solely managed by the students.ROOM 13 is dedicated to provingthe worth of the individual with with the support and mentorship of schoolstaff and community members. Facilitated by an artist-in-residence, also from the community, students work in teams, as partners or alone, determining the scope and content of their own creative projects. ROOM 13 artists also learn self-reliance by designing a business model that will sustain their own studio operation. TBWAChiatDay advertising has also provided support of the ROOM 13 network through the contributed help of its creative professionals. Proceeds from the sale of artworks will benefit ROOM 13 studios.

Itâ€™s amazing what a well-chosen new paint color scheme can do for the exterior of your home. Itâ€™s the least expensive major upgrade you can invest in and actually expect to make money on when you sell your home.

Let me emphasize how we need to look at these graphs and charts in terms of your own property: if you bought a house in Highland Park 2 years ago, just because the average price went down 44% doesnâ€™t necessarily mean that your own house went down that much.

Over 100 artists in 51 locations all over Highland Park, Eagle Rock, and Mt. Washington opened their homes and studios to hundreds of ticketholders on a beautiful, sunny Sunday, November 22, this year. No one can possibly do the whole tourâ€”itâ€™s that big! So we go back, year after yearâ€”this was the 17th yearâ€”finding new treasures, new artists, new studios. Thereâ€™s always a discovery of one kind or another.

My discovery this year was The Recording Kitchen, a music recording studio in the former Rayâ€™s Market at the corner of Avenue 50 and El Paso in Highland Park. This is hidden LA, folks. The security gates across the front were open just enough to allow us to pass through the doorway, but inside was a whole new world. Friendly, smiling Roxy Sosa, her family, and Chris, the art restoration specialist, welcomed me, offered me refreshments, and showed me through the whole facility. Who knew this was here? Go to http://www.RecordingKitchen.comÂ for details about their facilities and the variety of classes and services they offer.

The Recording Kitchen Christian de Brer is an archaeological and fine art conservator who does work for places like the Getty and the Fowler Museums. But he lives with his family in Highland Park and works out of his space at the Recording Kitchen. Check out his website for all kinds of information not only about him and his work, but tips on preserving your own art collection at home. You can also hire him to restore your art or you can pay $50 for an hour of consultation. His website: www.ChristiandeBrer.com.

The Recording Kitchen is offering a holiday special: For $160, you can pick a song, poem, or dedication that you would like to sing or speak and give as a gift. The pros at the Kitchen, using all the tricks of the trade, will help you create a professional sounding audio CD that can be given as the perfect holiday gift! And you can make as many copies of the CD as you want! Take care of all your gift obligations in one fell swoop!

For an additional $80, you can record an extra song. For an extra hour of recording you pay only $75.

Now that is a unique gift idea. Call 323-821-3069 to schedule a session.

I took one of the 4 shuttle busses in the afternoon which was a wonderful way to see several studios. But itâ€™s not just the art and the studios, itâ€™s the homes, the surprising variety of people, many of whom have lived in northeast Los Angeles for decades, that offer the treasures of discovery.

Here is a hidden gem in the hills of the Garvanza neighborhood of Highland Park. For more information about this historic neighborhood, check out the Neighborhood Project from LAist at http://laist.com/2007/08/06/the_neighborhoo_2.php

Here is your chance to clean out all those old computers, monitors, TVs, any electronic waste, and for free! It's local, too, right in front of the Carrow's Restaurant on York Blvd. in Highland Park, this Saturday, August 1, 9 am-4 pm. Tell your friends! Print out this flyer and post it! Be green and forward it to everyone you know.http://www.historichighlandpark.org/modules/agendax/?op=view&cid=11&id=1441